Honda generator CO safety system
Honda Power Sports & Products announced it is equipping its portable generators with an advanced version of its original CO-MINDER carbon monoxide (CO) detection and automatic shutoff system, a move, the company said, toward improving generator safety. Honda engineers recalibrated and reprogrammed the CO sensor to automatically shut down a generator immediately when it detects 600 parts per million (PPM) of carbon monoxide at the generator, or if it detects a 10-minute average of 400 parts of CO per million. While the system is designed to be fast acting, it also reduces nuisance shutdowns produced by false positives.
Honda was the first in the industry to commit to installing CO detection systems on its full line of generators, and in 2020, Honda became the first generator manufacturer to equip all models in its portable generator lineup with this system.
Generators across the company’s Economy, Deluxe, Industrial and Super Quiet Series now integrate CO-MINDER enhancements, meaning all models meet ANSI/PGMA G300-2023 safety and performance standards.
Safety rules specify that these generators must be used outdoors and away from windows and doors to prevent the buildup of carbon monoxide (CO), a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and deadly gas. Even outdoors, CO can accumulate to life-threatening levels in certain locations with little air movement. Yet people still suffer carbon monoxide poisoning, and even death, because of improper usage of portable generators, according to the Portable Generator Manufacturers’ Association (PGMA).
The original iteration of the Honda CO-MINDER system was set to automatically shut down a generator immediately when it detected 800 parts per million (PPM) of carbon monoxide at the generator or if it detected a 10-minute average of 400 parts of CO per million. This met the ANSI/PGMA G300-2018 safety standard.
To upgrade the CO-MINDER system to the new ANSI/PGMA G300-2023 standard, Honda engineers recalibrated and reprogrammed the CO sensor to automatically shut down a generator immediately when it detects 600 parts per million (PPM) of carbon monoxide at the generator or if it detects a 10-minute average of 400 parts of CO per million.
Honda also has moved the safety information labels closer to the CO indicators for greater convenience to the user. These labels contain information such as shutoff data, an exhaust directional safety warning, an anti-tamper message, and directions on how to restart the generator after an automatic CO-related shutdown.
“Portable generators have become a vital part of modern life, whether people depend on them for work, play or to provide lifesaving electricity in emergencies, storms or whenever the utility power goes out, said Mark Kohls, vice president of Honda Power Sports & Products, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “As a leader in the portable generator industry, Honda stands firmly in step with the safety standards adopted by the Portable Generator Manufacturers’ Association in making our products safer and better for the people who use them.”
EPA emissions standards
The Honda advancements come on the heels of the company’s April 8 announcement that Honda EU3200i and Honda EU7000iS Super Quiet Series generators, meeting both U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Phase 3 emissions standards and California Air Resources Board (CARB) Tier 4 compliance requirements, were on sale in California.
Honda engineers emphasize that portable generators must never be connected to a home’s electrical system through a standard outlet; this practice—known as backfeeding—is illegal because it’s extremely dangerous for utility workers. A safe connection starts with a transfer switch installed by a licensed electrician. The switch cuts off the utility power while the generator operates and may power only selected circuits. Once utility power is restored, the user disconnects the generator from the transfer switch to prevent backfeeding.
